A Reassessment of the Middle Bronze Age Cultures in the Lake Orūmīyeh Basin, Iran

Abstract This article examines the Middle Bronze Age archaeological evidence from surveys and excavations conducted in the in the area of the Lake Orūmīyeh basin in what is now north-western Iran. The sites were first analysed with regard to their more general classification, for example in relation to their geographical locations or according to the presence or absence of fortification structures. Another aspect discussed in the article concerns pottery traditions and their territorial distribution. The situation from this perspective is particularly interesting and complex due to the identification over the years of three different pottery traditions. The results of these analyses have led to new proposals concerning the Middle Bronze Age settlement pattern in this area.